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Award-winning guitarist, composer, songwriter and arranger, Dave Flynn, who is currently based in Ruakaka, will showcase his music at the Whangateau Hall on Monday October 31.
Flynn’s expertise in classical guitar, composition and traditional Irish music allows him to take audiences on a unique musical journey.
His playlist at Whangateau will mostly be guitar arrangements of Irish and Scottish traditional music, exploring the musical connections between these Celtic countries.
“I’m going right through the history of the music, from an ancient Irish battle march and baroque-era harp music by Turlough O’Carolan to 19th century reels and jigs and then some more modern compositions that I recorded on my albums Contemporary Traditional Irish Guitar and Draíocht,” Flynn says.
“There’s also some new Irish-style tunes I composed in New Zealand – a new kind of traditional Irish-Kiwi music! Another aspect of my show is I like to highlight connections between Irish traditional music and other countries to show how certain types of Irish tune styles were imported from England, Scotland, Poland and Germany. Then, to throw a spanner in the works, I do a piece I call an Irish Raga, which explores connections between Indian and Irish music.”
Flynn made the connection with New Zealand through his wife and they continue to divide their time between the Ireland and NZ.
He has toured Europe, Japan and New Zealand, including giving solo recitals at the Canterbury Folk Festival, Tournay Irish Music Festival and the Masters of Tradition Festival.
Flynn was a prominent part of the legendary Dublin singer-songwriter scene of the 1990s. He cut his teeth sharing a stage at open mic events with the likes of Oscar-winner Glen Hansard, folk legend Christy Moore and songsmith Declan O’Rourke, whom Flynn recently worked with on the top 10 album.
Initially self-taught, Flynn studied classical guitar and took masterclasses with classical guitar luminaries such as Roland Dyens, David Russell and Manuel Barrueco.
He plays a custom-made nylon string guitar and holds a PhD from the Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama and a Masters in Composition from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
The Whangateau Folk Club evening starts at 7pm. Entry $15.
Flynn will also play a gig at the Absurdistan Hall, near Kaiwaka, on Sunday November 13.
